It was created around ten years ago for the handling of elements for onshore wind turbines, a project which ultimately never saw the light of day. The river port of Grattequina, on the banks of the Garonne north of Bordeaux, could be relaunched with a project for a plant to refine materials for electric vehicle batteries.
A first phase of public consultation is underway, until May 20, for the modification of the Local Urban Plan (PLU). Basically, this involves allowing these lands, located in the municipalities of Blanquefort and Parempuyre but belonging to the Grand Maritime Port of Bordeaux (GPMB), to go from “long-term” urbanizable to immediately urbanizable.
A modification of the PLU against which a collective of residents opposes, arguing that these lands are partly located in a flood zone. At the end of last week, they launched an online petition, “No to the establishment in the heart of Bordeaux Métropole of a high-risk Seveso refinery. »
Nearly 500 million euros of investment
Unveiled about a month ago, the EMME project, for “Electro Mobility Materials Europe”, would consist of establishing on this site of around thirty hectares, an “XXL” nickel and cobalt refining plant, with a view to to make nickel and cobalt sulfates, necessary for the operation of battery cathodes for electric vehicles. Figures of around 480 million euros of investment, for 200 to 300 jobs created, have been circulating in recent days.
Commissioning is planned for 2028. The plant could then convert 20,000 tonnes of nickel and 1,500 tonnes of cobalt per year, which would make it “one of the first sites specializing in battery applications in Europe and France”. can we read in the project’s declaration of intent.
A boost for the port of Bordeaux
A Source close to the matter explains to 20 minutes that “the EMME site and laboratory in Gironde, thanks to the relocation of this stage of production called refining, would contribute to reducing the industrial deficit of France and Europe, by making the batteries of our more virtuous electric vehicles”. This “nickel and cobalt refining segment” is in fact “often carried out in China”, which has “an environmental impact three times greater than refining carried out in Europe”. EMME’s ambition is not only to relocate, but “to go even further by using the best available technologies and reduce this impact as much as possible”.
For the port of Bordeaux, “this project corresponds to our industrial transformation strategy, since it is part of our approach to welcoming the industries of tomorrow, and as part of the approach of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region which seeks to structure a battery sector,” explains to 20 minutes Jean-Frédéric Laurent, port director. “Moreover, there is a desire on the part of the project leader to maximize the use of the river and the sea route for the transport of materials, whether for the supply or redistribution of processed products. [via l’océan puis l’estuaire de la Gironde]. This should correspond to 5,000 containers per year, which is relatively important for the port of Bordeaux which handles 25,000 containers per year. »
And the sludge?
However, locally, part of the population is strongly opposed to this project. “For the moment the file does not inform us about the operation of this factory: studies of the impacts on water, soil, air and noise will be carried out later, while the installation will be classified Seveso, that is to say extremely dangerous with risks of fire, explosion, pollution…” we can read on the petition.
Contacted by 20 minutes, a member of the collective, Jean-Marc Farthouat, points out “that it will in reality be a refinery, which will use a temperature rise process to treat the product, with rejects”. Furthermore, “we are in a marshy area,” recalls this resident of Parempuyre. “To carry out this industrial project in this strip of land between the road and the Garonne, it will be necessary to backfill over around twenty hectares to reach a height of more than two meters, so that the factory floor is above of the maximum rating. It’s as if we were installing a large dike in this place, which makes us wonder about how the two jalles which are used to drain the town’s excess water will be treated…”
Jean-Marc Farthouat finally asks how “the sludge will be treated [résidus non utilisés des matériaux] ? » The project’s statement of intent indicates that, “ultimately”, the site “may be subject to future expansions, proposing to convert recycled materials from batteries or production losses”.
Agricultural and natural compensation
Jean-Frédéric Laurent assures that “a lot of work is currently being done to limit the waterproofing of the soil, which will be 12 hectares out of a 30 hectare project. » Furthermore, “the studies carried out at this stage show that the probable effects in the event of submersion only generate surges of a few millimeters, in limited areas around the industrial site”. Finally, he recalls that “all agricultural areas [détruites] have already been fully compensated” during the creation of the terminal, “and that there remain the natural areas, which will also be. »
If the port director considers it “normal” that local residents “ask all these questions”, he suggests that “all environmental studies will be carried out before the building permit stage and that of the installation classified for protection of the environment (ICPE). » Not sure that this will be enough to calm things down for the moment.
